UAE visa routes: 10 ways to get residence in Dubai at a glance

How to read this overview

To live in Dubai you need a residence permit. You can get one through an employer, your own company, investment, family, study or retirement. "Validity" means how long the permit is valid, not the processing time. Amounts are shown in AED, as the authorities state them (guide rate €1 = AED 4.00).

The 10 routes compared

Route	Who it is for	Main requirement	Validity
1. Mainland work visa	employees of a mainland company	employment contract; the employer applies through MOHRE	1, 2 or 3 years
2. Free zone work visa	employees of a free zone company	employment contract; the free zone authority is the sponsor	1, 2 or 3 years
3. Own company (free zone)	founders with their own licence	free zone licence, visa quota depends on the package	in general as route 2
4. Own company (mainland), investor	owners and shareholders	trade licence via the Department of Economy and Tourism; Green Visa for investors with proof of investment	Green: 5 years; otherwise confirm with GDRFA
5. Freelance and Green Visa	freelancers, highly paid professionals	freelancers: MOHRE permit, at least a bachelor's degree, AED 360,000 income in each of the last 2 years or financial solvency. Professionals: skill level 1 to 3, salary of at least AED 15,000 a month	5 years, no sponsor
6. Golden Visa	investors, property buyers, entrepreneurs, top earners, talents	e.g. property from AED 2 million, professionals earning from AED 30,000 a month with a bachelor's degree	10 years, no sponsor
7. Family sponsorship	spouse and children	sponsor earns at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus housing	no longer than the sponsor's residence
8. Retirement (55+)	retirees aged 55 or over	15 years of work plus assets or income (see below)	5 years, renewable
9. Remote work	employees of an employer abroad	remote work for an organisation outside the UAE, in general at least USD 3,500 a month, health insurance	1 year, renewable
10. Study	students	admission to an accredited university; sponsor is the university or a parent	in general 1 year

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Where sources differ

Not every figure is described the same way. For the retirement visa, the government portal u.ae gives an annual income of AED 180,000 in general and AED 240,000 for Dubai; sources differ on whether property alone is enough. For the remote work visa, GDRFA gives USD 3,500 a month, while u.ae describes different proof for company owners. For the property Golden Visa, u.ae partly lists 5 years, while ICP and the Dubai Land Department list 10. In general, the figure of the responsible authority applies; exceptions and individual cases are possible, so confirm it with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.

There are also special routes, such as the Golden Visa for content creators through a cultural nomination, and time-limited programmes run by the authorities. Criteria are described inconsistently, so here too: confirm with ICP or GDRFA.

What applies to every route

No residence is issued or renewed without valid health insurance.
A medical fitness test (from 18) and an Emirates ID are always part of it.
If you stay outside the UAE for more than 180 days in a row, you usually lose your residence. Exceptions include the Golden Visa.
Work, family and Golden visas often need legalised documents. Allow several weeks.

Quick orientation

Job offer in Dubai: route 1 or 2, your employer handles it.
You keep working for an employer or your company abroad: route 9, see Remote work from Dubai.
You want to be self-employed: route 3, 4 or 5, see Freelancers and founders.
Your partner already has residence: route 7, see Moving with your family.
You are 55+ and no longer working: route 8, see Retiring in Dubai.

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Frequently asked questions

Which visa do I need to live in Dubai?

A residence visa. Which of the ten routes fits depends on how you earn your income: an employment contract, your own company, freelancing, investment, family, study, remote work or retirement.

What is the difference between the Green Visa and the Golden Visa?

The Green Visa is valid for 5 years without a sponsor, for example for freelancers and well-paid professionals. The Golden Visa is valid for 10 years without a sponsor and is aimed at investors, property buyers from AED 2 million, entrepreneurs, top earners and talents.

Can I work in Dubai on a tourist visa?

No. A visit visa does not allow you to work in the UAE. To live and work there you need a residence permit.

How much do I need to earn to sponsor my family?

In general at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus housing provided. Exceptions and individual cases are possible, for example for parents or female sponsors. Confirm with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.

Sources

Retrieved on 14 and 15 October 2026. Official bodies first; market data and benchmarks are labelled as such.

More guides

This page provides general information and is not legal, tax or migration advice. Rules, amounts and fees can change; the office named is authoritative. Euro amounts use the guide rate €1 = AED 4.00.